This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the new drug eluting stents (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, California) to treat de novo coronary lesions. These new polymer free drug filled stents have the potential to improve clinical outcomes and allow a shorter dual antiplatelet therapy. In addition, they have been made with three layers of continuous<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2017/02/21/new-generation-of-des-already-being-tested-so-far-safe/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Symptomatic mitral regurgitation is associated with high morbidity and mortality that can be alleviated partly by surgical mitral valve replacement. However, many patients do not undergo surgery. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement is an appealing option for this selected patient group. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of transcatheter mitral valve replacement<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2017/01/27/transcatheter-mitral-valve-replacement-for-severe-mitral-regurgitation-a-global-study/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Thrombus aspiration during primary PCI in ST elevation MI has been extensively used; however, recent studies have questioned its efficacy and safety. This meta-analysis looked into individual patient data to determine the benefit and safety of thrombus aspiration during primary PCI. It included all randomized and controlled studies assessing manual thrombectomy vs. conventional<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2017/01/09/thrombus-aspiration-during-primary-pci-does-not-improve-clinical-outcomes/" title="Read more" >...</a>
In patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary angioplasty with stents, standard anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists plus dual antiplatelet therapy with a P2Y12 inhibitor and aspirin reduces the risk of stent thrombosis and stroke, but increases the risk of bleeding. The effectiveness and safety of anticoagulation with rivaroxaban plus one or two antiplatelet agents<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/12/26/anticoagulated-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-undergoing-angioplasty-how-to-treat-them/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Courtesy of Dr. Guillermo Migliaro. At present, there is no clear evidence in favor of inferior vena cava filters (IVC) for patients developing recurrent symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the existing guideline recommendations from the different societies are contradicting. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of these devices in patients<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/12/06/inferior-vena-cava-filters-in-recurrent-thromboembolism-yes-or-no/" title="Read more" >...</a>
This study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2016 and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed incomplete revascularization is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events, particularly infarction, in patients that must later receive non-cardiac surgery. Patients with incomplete revascularization (defined as a ≥ 50% left<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/11/30/non-cardiac-surgery-with-incomplete-revascularization-associated-to-events/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) angioplasty has become an important trend in the last few years. One of the most significant unresolved questions about it is whether one stent is better than two in distal lesions, and how is their progress after treatment. This study included 937 patients who<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/11/16/bifurcation-lesion-in-distal-left-main-coronary-artery-one-or-two-stents/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Courtesy of Dr. Guillermo Migliaro. The latest 2011 American College of Cardiology (ACC) guideline states that “coronary intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) may be considered for guidance of coronary stent implantation, particularly in cases of left main coronary artery stenting (Class IIB, Level of Evidence: B).” This has been long debated with no clear winners. This analysis provides new information<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/11/01/ivus-vs-angiography-in-new-generation-drug-eluting-stents-preimplantation/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Courtesy of Dr. Agustín Vecchia. The link between operator volume and clinical outcomes has been long and widely debated. After years of discussion, there are promoters and detractors. Currently, interventional cardiology societies all over the world classify centers as “high-volume” or “low-volume” using arbitrary parameters, and require training fellows to perform an also arbitrary number of<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/10/25/experienced-operators-50-lower-mortality-rates/" title="Read more" >...</a>
The MATRIX study did not find a clear advantage of bivalirudin over unfractioned heparin to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or net cardiovascular adverse events (NCAE) in patients undergoing acute coronary syndrome receiving PCI. This new analyzis confirms there is no difference in ischemic and thrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/10/19/cardiovascular-events-reduction-bivalirudin-or-heparin/" title="Read more" >...</a>